Refrigerator



5 Sheets-Sheet 1 I Sept 13, 1932- L R. E. TTENHElMl-:R

- REFRIGERATOR Filed Aug. 2.5, 1927 ,auf

3 Sheets-'Sheet 3 attozn'm, v

R. E. OTTENHEIMER sept. 13, 1932;

REFRIGERATOR Filed Aug. 25, 192'?y 10 as well as a satisfactory display of goods Patented Sept. 13, '1932 PATENT OFFICE REUBEN ELI OTTENHEIMER, OF BALTIMORE, MARYLAND REFRIGERATOR Application tiled August 25, 1927. Serial No. 215,333.

This invention relates to refrigerators and has for its object the provision of means whereby the deposit of frost or dew by condensation of moisture upon the surface of 5 theglass panel in a display refrigerator is prevented, and whereby moisture in the walls, or between the panels* of the walls, or between thepanes of the display panel is absorbed, in the interest of better refrigeration within the refrigerator. i the provision of a. structure especially adapted for the expulsion of moist air from and 4 the admission of dry air, or any suitable gas, 5 to the space between the panes which are set into the wall of the refrigerator to forml a display panel. The inventionA is illustrated in the accompanying drawings and will be hereinafter fully set forth and deiined.A

0 In the drawings Fig. l is a front elevation ofthe upper portion of a display refrigerator embodying the invention; Y Fig. 2 is an end elevation of the same; Fig` 3 is an enlarged section on the line 3 3 of Fig. l; i

' Fig. 4 is a section similar to Fig. 3 illus- `trating a moisture-absorbing arrangement;

gf the upper portion of the device shown in ig. 4; Fig. Gis a section on the line 6 6 of Fig. 5; Fig. 7 is a sectional perspective view ofa refrigerator construction ona larger scale.l

AThe refrigerator, indicated at 1,'may be of any known or approved construction having walls constructed of hollow panels as.

indicated in Fig. 7, or having glazed panels for the display of foods, which panels may be xed as indicated at 2 in Figs-1, 2, 3 and 4,.or may be part of a door as indicated at 3 in Fig. 7. The panels comprise a sash or frame 4 into y.which glass panes 5fare set to establish a dead-air chamberk 6 between the panes, and it may be here noted that usu- Fig. 5 is an enlarged longitudinal section ally only a single chamber is formed but three Another Object iS y\where no display features areinvolved, ve-

neer or the like may be used in lieu of the glass panes, to form a suitable insulating space or panel. This wall structure may be of any conventional and well known type,

.regardless of material, examples being the ends and 'rear of the case in Figs. 1 and 2, and the walls shown in section in Fig. 7.

It will be noted that the walls illustrated comprise a series of cells or chambers, and obviously the cells or chambers may be reduced in size and increased in number.

. Atmospheric air always contains moisture which; getting into the air cells of the insulation lor into the hollow pane-ls renders the insulation (whether it be a panel, or a cellularstructure) less eiiic'ient. Again, when the air is not circulating, this moisture lcondenses upon the surfaces of the glass panes, so as to obscure the view through them and cause great annoyance to storekeepers dealing in perishable food products. Especially is this true when, as in refrigerators, there is a diii'erence in temperatures on opposite sides of the glassfTo meet and overcome thiscondition, the present invention provides tubes or passages 7, of any suitable material, which are fitted snugly through the frame of the wall, door or panel and open at their inner ends into the space 6 and at. their outer ends into theatmosphere. These passages may, of course, be formed by drilling without necessitating the use of tubes fitted in the panel.

lAfter the refrigerator is finished, the outer las end of one tube 7 is connected to an air pumpv and a gas or dehydrated air is forced into the chamber 6 so as to substantially fill the same and drive out the atmospheric air through the other tube. After all the moist or atmospheric air has been driven out, the outer ends of both tubes are closed -by stoppers 8 of non-porous material which will fit tightly in the tubes and exclude moisture, the Stoppers, like the tubes, being of any suitable material, for example, rubber, to effect the requisite close fit in the tube and remain unaffected by any moisture in the surrounding atmospheric air, it being understood that suitable luting is provided around the ends of the tubes and the edges of the panels.

While in the form of the invention shown in the drawings, two tubes are used, it is obvious that one tube only could be used, the

space between the panes being partially eX- hausted, and the vacuum thus formed lled with gas or dehumidified air, which would naturally rush in and ll the space without creating a pressure.

Glass panes may be broken in use or, for some other reason, moisture 'may find its way into the dead-air chamber or into the insulation after the refri `erator has left the factory, and to, meet this condition a moisture-absorbent agent is provided, andi-placed in communication with the interior of the chamber either by insertion into a tube or passage or by location in such a position as to communicate through the tube or passage with the chamber. In Fig. 4, this agent is shown as a wick 9, of some material having high moisture-absorbing qualities, which is held in shape by a wire-mesh casinfr 10 insertible through the tube 7. At polints be tween its ends, spacing collars 11 are mounted on the casing 10, and at its upper or outerv end it is attached to a ferrule or thimble 12 which may be connected to the stopper 8 by a link or short chain 13. In Figs. 5 and 6,

a cartridge 14 of calcium chloride, lime or other substance having the property of absorbing moisture from the atmosphere is substituted for the wick 9, the device, otherwise, being the same-.as that shown in Fig. 4. In Fig. 7, the spacers 15 between the glass panes 5 are of soft wood or of fibre, which has been baked and thoroughly dried and then wrapped in paraiine paper or other moisture-proof covering until it is built into the refrigerator, so that these/spacers form moisture-absorbing elements for -the dead-air spaces. It is obvious that the wicking, cartridges, or other removable moisture-absorbing agent may be renewed as often as necessary, and different types of agents may be used in combination with each other. For

instance, it may be desirable to provide spacplied by the manufacturer of the refrigerator. 'lhe Stoppers 8, casing 10, ferrule 12 and chain 13 provide a means to replace or renew the moisture absorbing agent when necessary.

y To provide access to the panels for inserting or renewing the moisture-absorbingagent, the top 16 of the refrigerator may be removable or may beso spaced or shaped as to permit the operator to reach under it.

If desired, the tube or tubes may be inserted at either the end stiles or lower rail of the ease instead of in the top rail as shown. In fact Ait may be advisable in some forms of cases utilizing this invention to insert a tube in the member around the air space in the rear sliding doors, which are naturally of insulating construction.

Obviously the wicking, cartridge, dried spacer or other suitable moisture absorbent agent may be extended throughout the height or length of the enclosed space, or may be located around any portion of the outside edges of the glass, within the chamber, or without the chamber, but in communication therewith, as desired, the only fundamental requirement being that of moisture absorption capacity.

From' the foregoing description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, it will be seen that I have provided-a simple construction which may be readily included in any refrigerator withoutany considerable expense, and that by the Practice of my invention the dead-air space of the refrigerator will be freed ofmoisture, whether that space be enclosed between glass panes, or in a hollow wall panel formed of other material than glass and dulling of the glass-panels in a display referigerator by condensation will be avoided. In short, it is substantially impossible to prevent permeation of any wood or kindred material from which refrigerators are usually built, by water vapor which is deleterious to refrigeration, and acts to break down the insulating effect of the refrigerator walls which depend upon a dry cellular formation or a hollow, dry tight air space for this effect, and which obscures the vision, as well of an insulating glass panel.v I-Ience this invention is decidedly advantageous in that itprovides initiation and maintenance of a dry condition in the walls and panels or for that matter in any insulated portion of the refrigerator.

Having thus described my invention, what- I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is z- 1. In a refrigerator having a wall portion formed by panes of glass, spacers for said panes, fluid chambers formed between the panes, means in said spacers affording Sii communication with said chambers, andA means coacting with said first means to dry the fluid within said chamber.

2. A wall structure for refrigerators embodying an insulating chamber, open-ended tubes projected through a Wall of the structure into `the chamber whereby a substantially dry Huid may be driven into the cham-4 ber and atmospheric air driven therefrom, means to maintain said fluid in a dry condition while in the chamber, and means for closirg the outer ends of the tubes.

3. wall structure for refrigerators embodying a fluid containing insulating chamber, having passages through the wall of said chamber and effective to form an inlet to, and an outlet from the chamber, closures for the passages and a moisture-absorbing agent removably mounted in one of the passages.

4. A structure including a frame, panes in the frame defining a Huid containing insulating chamber, closed to the atmosphere andv spacers of absorbent material between the panes, and protected from the atmosphere.

V5. A wall structure for refrigerators embodying a iiuid containing insulating chamber closed to the atmosphere, a passage in a wall ofsaid chamber, a moisture-absorbing body, means to support said body from said passage and in communication with the chamber to maintain the iiuid in a dry condition and thereby increase the insulating eii'ect of said chamber, and a foraminous cas,- ingfor said body.

6. A structure embodying a iuid containing chamber, a passage extending through the wall of said chamber, a closure for said passage, a ferrule connected with said closure, a foraminous casing secured to the ferrule and `,extending through the passage, and a moisture-absorbing body in said casing.

7. A refrigerator having a wall portion formed by spaced panes of glass, a chamber between said panes adapted to contain Huid, means between said panes establishing communication between the interior and exteriorof said chamber and means comprising a drylng agent and a seal coacting with said first means to break communication with the atmosphere. Y

8. A panel structure for refrigerators einbodying a fluid containing insulating chamber, closed to the atmosphere, a passage in a wall of said chamber a moisture-absorbing agent, means to support said agent from said passage and in communication with said chamber to maintain the fluid in a dry condition and thereby increase the insulating effect of said chamber, and means to seal said agent in the chamber from external influences.

9. A structure embodying, a dead-air chamber, a passage extending througha Wall of said chamber, and in vcommunication with the chamber, and amoisture-absorbing ma` terial in the passage, and means to protect said material from the atmosphere. l 10. A structure embodying a dead-air chamber, a passage extending through a wall of said chamber, a moisture-absorbing material in said passage, and means for renewing the moisture. absorbing material.

11. A structure embodying a dead-air chamber, havingV passages through the Wall of said chamber, a moisture-absorbing material in one of said passages and a replaceable casing for said moisture-absorbing material.

12. In a refrigerator having insulating wall portions formed of glass lights, a chamber defined by said lights and closed to the atmosphere and containing a dehydrated gas, a passage extending between said lights, and an absorbing agent, means to support sald agent from said passage and Within said chamber to maintain the gas in a dry condition and thereby increase the insulating effect of the chamber.

13. A structure including a frame, panes of glass in said frame delining a dead-air 'chamber therebetween, spacers of absorbent material between the panes and an absorbent material inserted in said chamber.

14. A structure embodying a dead-air chamber, a moisture-absorbing body hung in the Wall of said chamber, and means for rev newing the moisture absorbing body.`

15.v A refrigerator Wall structure comprising al panel embodying a Huid containing, insulating chamber closed to the atmosphere, a passage in a. wall of said chamber, 'a mois.- ture absorbing agent, and means to support said agent from said passage in communication with said chamber and protected from the atmosphere. 16. A refrigerator having a spaced wall portion forming an insulated cell, a passage extending through a wall of said cell, and a moisture absorbing agent supported in said passage and in communication with the cell to maintain the interior of the cell in a dry condition and thereby increase the insulating eliect of\the cell, and means for replacing said agent.

' 17. A refrigerator having a spaced wall portion forming an insulating cell, a passage extending through a Wall ofrsaid cell, a moisture absorbing agent supported in said passage and in communication with the cell to'` maintain the interior of the cell in a dry condition and thereby increase the insulating effect of the cell, and means in said passage 20. The combination witha heat insulating Y panel for a. refrigerator having al-refrigerating space, of a substantially air tight cha-mber located within the panel adjacent said refrigerating space, and provided with an opening and a moisture absorbing element mounted in said opening.

21. The combination with a heat insulating panel for a refrigerator, having a refrigerating space, of a substantially air tight chambel` located within the panel adjacent said refrom, means to maintain said iluid in a substantially dry condition While in the chamber, and means for sealing the chamber.

26. In a refrigerator having a refrigerating space, and means for cooling same, a

anel embodying a dead air insulating chamer, avperforated tube in communication with l said chamber and a moisture absorbing body within said tube whereby the dead air within the chamber will be maintained in a substantially dry condition.

In testimony whereof I hereunto affix my signature.

REUBEN E. OTTENHEIMER.

frigerating space, and provided with an aperture at one side of said chamber, and with a second aperturel at the other side of saidchamber and hygroscopic means within said chamber.

22. In a refrigerator having a refrigerating space, and means for cooling same, la

' panel embodying a dead air insulating chamber adjacent said space, a moisture absorbing body supported by a wall of said chamber, and means for renewing the moisture absorbing body.

23. The combination in a refrigerator having a cooling space, of a heat insulating panel adjacent said space, a substantially air tight chamber located within said panel and sealed from the interior-of the cooling space, of A, means for supplying dry fluid to said chamx ber, including an inlet and outlet for the chamber, and means to maintain Said fluid in a substantially dry condition while in the chamber.

' 24. A wall structure for refrigerators cmbodying an insulating chamber, inlet and out let `passages extending through a wall of the structure into the chamber, whereby a substantially dry fluid may be driven into the chamber and atmospheric air driven therefrom, means to maintain said fluid in a substantially dry condition while in the chamber,

and means for sealing the outer ends of the A* passages.

25. The combination with a heat insulating panel for refrigerators, of a substantially air tight chamber located within the panel and provided with means to establish communication between the interior of the chamber and the exterior of the panel, whereby a substantially dry iuid may be driven into the chamber and atmospheric airvdriven there- 

